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PostFinance and social partners reach agreement

As of next summer, PostFinance will outsource document processing to SPS.

Discussions regarding framework conditions were held with both social partners.

Wide-ranging mitigating provisions were agreed on by all parties.

In mid-November 2017, PostFinance announced that it was going to implement four measures from its Victoria strategy programme next year. One of these measures involved outsourcing document processing to the subsidiary Swiss Post Solutions (SPS). Over the past few weeks, discussions took place between PostFinance and its two social partners with signing rights (the staff association transfair and the trade union syndicom) to define the precise structure of the framework conditions for this transition to another section of the company.

Salary guarantee, mobility allowance, additional leave

These discussions have now been successfully completed. The parties agreed on mitigating provisions which go clearly beyond statutory benefits and those set out in the collective employment contract. This means that the salary guarantee will be extended from 12 to 21 months after the transition to SPS and will remain in place until 29 February 2020. In addition, employees who are affected by a change in their place of work will receive a mobility allowance of 200 francs per month for these 21 months. Until 29 February 2020, employees in Bellinzona and Bulle will be granted an extra five days of leave pro rata as a result of the long journey to work.

“When social partners negotiate with companies, they take a tough line. That’s part of the process. And the fact that trade unions generally do not agree with outsourcing is understandable. It therefore makes me happy that we could agree together with our social partners on compensation measures which improve the personal situation of the staff concerned. The results show that PostFinance understands how to simultaneously safeguard its economic interests while remaining committed to its social responsibility as an employer. It is important to do both these things,” explains Gabriela Länger, Head of Working Environment at PostFinance.

SPS wants to grow and needs qualified staff

Damian Baer, Head of SPS Switzerland, highlights that: “Our core business is document solutions: we are firmly present in this sector in Switzerland and are the market leader in other European countries. We want to continue to grow over the next few years. This means we depend on qualified employees. As a result, I would be pleased if many of our colleagues at PostFinance accept our offer, and as of next summer support us by providing their valuable expertise.”